Human Resource Management, 3rd Edition

Chapter 5

Recruiting Talented Employees

A MANAGER'S PERSPECTIVE

SANJIV LEAVES HIS SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE FEELING GOOD ABOUT HIS RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE TWO YEARS AGO, HE ACCEPTED A JOB IN THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT AT A CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMPANY. OVER THE PAST YEAR, HE HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME WORKING ON A TEAM, WHICH JUST COMPLETED A REPORT ON AREAS OF POTENTIAL GROWTH FOR NEW PRODUCTS. HE IS SORRY THAT THE PROJECT IS ENDING BECAUSE HE WILL NO LONGER BE WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH HIS FRIENDS ON THE TEAM, BUT HE IS EXCITED TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING NEW. THE SOMETHING NEW IS QUITE A SURPRISE. SANJIV HAS JUST BEEN ASKED TO BE A MEMBER OF A TEAM THAT WILL RECOMMEND BETTER WAYS TO RECRUIT NEW EMPLOYEES.

Sanjiv starts to think about why he chose this company two years ago. A friend introduced him to the opportunity and connected him with managers who were making hiring decisions. Being referred by his friend helped assure Sanjiv that it would be a good place to work. His friend even told him some of the undesirable things about the company. This actually reassured Sanjiv because he knew that he was getting an accurate picture of how things would be. Reflecting back, Sanjiv is sure that having a friend at the company positively influenced his choice to accept the position.

As he thinks back, Sanjiv also remembers a conversation he had with his college roommates. ...